Ex-real estate developer to pay restitution for fraud

SPRINGFIELD —- A federal judge on Tuesday ordered a former Peoria real estate developer to pay $683,594 in restitution to people and to a bank she defrauded.

That amount is nearly $85,000 more than Shara Andrews, 40, was ordered to pay by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough in November when Andrews was sentenced to two years in federal prison.

But Myerscough, in an order issued Tuesday, opted to allow some legal fees for two people bilked by Andrews, formerly Shara Manning, The reason was that those people weren’t trying to sue Andrews, but rather, protect their assets or their credit ratings.

That, the judge said, made the fees eligible for restitution.

Andrews, now of Mobile, Ala., pleaded guilty in February to money laundering and bank fraud.

Court records indicate she owned Shara Manning Properties, a real estate development company, and bought property known as Wyndhill Estates with $1.45 million in loans.

The company served as general contractor on the subdivision project from 2006 until 2009, selling lots and overseeing construction of the buyers’ homes.

Andrews took buyers’ money and converted it to her own personal accounts.

Andrews submitted fraudulent lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers to real estate buyers to get more money, according to court records.